Quick Shots: Deb Patterson ousted at Kansas State

Kansas State fired former Hononegah coach and Rockford West star player Deb Patterson from the women’s basketball head coaching position, wasting no time by making the move two days after an opening-round loss in the Big 12 tournament earlier this month.

The Wildcats’ season ended with an 87-84 overtime loss to Kansas, and Kansas State finished 11-19 after going 5-13 in the conference.

Patterson was 350-226 in 18 seasons at the school, notching the most wins in program history and leading the team to nine NCAA tournaments and Big 12 titles in 2004 and 2008.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision to make,” K-State AD John Currie said in a statement. “I have great appreciation for Coach Patterson both as a person and a coach and want to offer our thanks for her service here.”

On Tuesday the Wildcats lured Jeff Mittie from TCU to replace Patterson.

Cross selected to play one more time

After being named second-team all-district a day before by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Chas Cross (Winnebago) was named to the 2014 Reese’s Division III College All-Star Game, which will be played as part of the D-III championship weekend.

Cross will play on the East All-Star Team on Saturday at 2 p.m., prior to the championship game in Salem, Va.

Cross was also selected first-team All-WIAC as well as all-defensive team earlier this month. He led the WIAC in field goal percentage (62.8 percent) and ranked second in rebounds (7.2) and blocks (58).

He ended his career with 1,336 points, putting him 12th in school history, while recording the most career blocks (135) in program history. He shot 61.2 percent from the field, also a school record.

Wimberly no-no

Former Rock Valley College and Guilford High School standout Cyrus Wimberly pitched a no-hitter lastr weekend for Culver-Stockton College.

The senior struck out nine hitters in the 9-0 victory over Benedictine. In that game, RVC alums Cody Jacobson (Dakota) went 2-4 with a pair of runs scored and two RBI while junior Ryan Scarpetta (Hononegah) went 2-4 with two RBI.